Dear JB,
    I drive a .  This summer I have noticed that the air conditioning quits working after I drive around for 30 minutes or so.  I took it to my mechanic and he checked it for leaks and said there weren't any then said he recharged it anyway (which makes no sense!).  The bad part is that it still is not fixed.  I've now been told all sorts of scary stories

about weird electrical problems by my friends. Can you relieve my fears?
Signed,
LL "Hot" J

Dear  LL,
    You mean scary tales like this: "Once upon a summer dreary, While I traveled hot and weary, With the

windows up to fool my friends." You mean that kind of scary tales?  No?  Well, how about this explanation then?  It sounds like you have a weak compressor clutch coil.  That's the part that allows the belt to turn the compressor when the A/C is turned on.  If there is a short in the windings of this coil it will not be able to hold the compressor engaged very long.  The recommended repair is to replace the whole compressor since the heat generated by the slipping clutch also damages the front seal and bearing inside the compressor.

Dear JB,
    My car is a 1997 Chevy Malibu with 91,000 miles on it.  I bought it new, so I know it has never been wrecked.  This Malibu has a squeak

or rattle coming from the front of the car. It sounds to me like it is coming from somewhere up high like near the windshield area. I have taken it to the dealer and they replaced the front motor mount and lubed the struts. The noise is there any time the car is driven on semi-smooth roads and over bumps.  Thanks.
Signed,
Malibumpy

Dear Mal,
    I've heard this type of noise

you are describing many times.  The dealership was on the right track when they replaced a mount they just replaced the wrong one.  The problem is that there is no good way to duplicate this type of noise once the car is in the shop and raised on a lift where the mechanic can actually check it.  It is very difficult and dangerous to try to hang onto the front of a car and feel around on steering and suspension parts while the customer drives down a bumpy country road, so we solve this type of problem through trial and error until some new part fixes it then we try and remember the noise and the associated cure for future reference.  Pure science if you ever saw it! The noise you are hearing is the upper strut mounts.  Normally, these expensive parts are hard to sell in conjunction with an already expensive strut replacement job, so we convinced the engineers to design them to make clunking noises as they wore out.  It's worked out great!


JB can be seen each Thursday morning on WDEF-TV News 12's Morning Show at 7:30 A.M. where he answers your car questions.  He can also be heard Saturday Mornings 7-9 on Talk Radio 102.3 FM on the Saturday Morning Garage.  He spends the rest of his time taking advantage of helpless motorists at North Shore Auto Repair in Chattanooga.  E-mail JB at jeepster1515@yahoo.com to have your car care question answered in this column.